Binocular microscope



Aug. 2 1927.

c. L. GARY BINOCULAR MICROSCOPE Filed Aug. 17 1925 'Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

UNITED STATES CHARLES L. GARY, OF KENMORE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO SPENCER LENS COMPANY,

OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

BINOCULAR MiCROSCOiPE.

Application filed August "17, 1925. Serial 10.50539.

This invention relates to binocular microscopes of the kind having the optical axes of the objectives arranged at different angles from the optical axes of the eyepieces.

The objects of this invention are to provide a microscope of this kind with a system of prisms which serve the twofold purpose of erecting the image and of deflecting the light from the objectives at an angle to the optical axes thereof, which prisms are of compara ively simple construction and easier to manufacture than prisms of this kind heretofore used; also to provide a binocular microscope in which the parts are so ar ranged relatively to each other that theeyes of the user of the microscope are adjusted for normal, close up Work to relieve eye strain in the use ot'the microscope; also to provide a microscope of this kind with means of improved construction for obtaining the desired adjustment for different pupillary distances; also to improve the construction of binocular n'iicroscopes in other respects herein a tter specified.

In the accompanying drawings, v Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly n section, of a binocular microscope embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a set of prisms with the cover of the prism housing re moved.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the relative arrangement of the objective and eyepiece lenses and the prisms.

' Fig. 4 is a sectional bottom plan view thereof on line 4-4, Fig. 1.

A represents, in general, the housing or body portion of the miscroscope in which the objectives are mounted and a, a represent the objective lenses The prism or reflector housings are preferably mounted on the upper ends of the main housing A of the microscope. Each of these prism housings, in'the particular construction illustrated, includes a base B and a cap or cover portion 0 mounted on the base B, and eyepiece tubes 1) are secured to the cover portions of the prism housings. The prism housings may be of usual construction and are preferably cylindrical in form and are provided with downwardly extending tubular portions cl which are journalled to turnin the upper ends of the housing or body portion A of the microscope. The eyepiece tubesare arranged eccentrically with reference to the axesof rothe light from about 8 from tation of the prism housings and consequently these housings may be turned to adjust the eyepiece tubes D for different pupillary distances. All of these parts so far described haveheretofore been used in connection with binocular microscopes and of themselves constitute no part of this invention.

In order to obtain a stereoscopic view of the'subject Which'isbeing examined, the objective lenses are preferably arranged to converge so that the angle between the optical axes of the two objectives is about 16. It has been found, however, that this angle, while producing a good stereoscopic effect also produces eye strain on the'user of the microscope if the eyepieees also converge at this angle, for the reason that in normal vision the human eyes are not used in such a manner that the optical axes of the two eyes if, in a microscope, the path of light from 1 the objectives is changed in such a manner that the eyepreces of the microscope are arranged parallel to each other, the average user of microscopes experiences eye strain for the following reason. If the eyepiece tubes are parallel, the eyes are converged for distant vision, and should therefore be focused for distant vision to maintain it normal balance of muscles. This can be done by proper manipulation of a microscope hav-' ing parallel eyepiece tubes. However, the average user of the microscope is continually looking into the microscope and then at notebook or the like on the table. This necessitatesqa constant change of eye accommodation with its attendant fatigue. If the microscope is so designed that focus and convergence of the eyesis the samewhen using the microscope as in the other work attendant on its use, saving of eye strain In accordance with my invention the objectives is deflected in that the optical axes of the are arranged at an angle of each other while the optical axes of the objectives'arearrangedv at an angle of about 16 from each other. By this arrangement of the-optical axes of the eyepieces, theeyes are used in the same manner results.

such a manner two eye pieces as in reading or Writing or other closeup work, both as to the angular ad ustment oi the eyes relatively to each other and as to the focusing or the eyes,- and consequently no I theprisms eye strain results in looking alternately through the microscope and then ata book or the like. i

The changing of the angle of the, light passing from the objectives to the eye piece tubes 1) and the erecting of the image may be accomplished by any suitable means; In the particular construction shown, a series oi reflecting surtaces s employed, three prisms n E, RandG being used for this purpose in connection with each unit or tube of the inicroscope, and the prisms are arranged within the prism housings. The prism E, Figs. 1 and 3, is provided with a face e-arranged substantially perpendicular to the optical reflecting faces 7 and j" which are so arranged that the raysretlected from the face 6 of the prism 15 are reflected by the face f ofthe prism F L to the face 7', from which they are again reflected in a. direction substantially parallel with the direction of the rays entering the prism F.= The rays from the reflecting surface 7" pass to the third prism G and strike an inclined lace g thereof from which they are projected upwardly'out of-the prism G and into the eye piece :t-u'be'D.

By means of this arrangement of the prisms the image is erectechwand a "change in the angle of the rays can be el'l'ected by provid-.

ing either or both of the prisms E and G a with angles other than hetweenthe faces e and g of these prisms and the adjacent- .ity of either or both ot' the faces f or 'f of V the prism F with reference tothe triangular sides thereof, or bychanging the angulariiaces of this prism solas to produce the desired angle in therays o tylight leaving the final reflecting surface g. In therparticular construction shownpthe prism E is a et5 prism and the prism G is a n prism as clearlyiindicated in Figftl and this arrangement of the angles results. 111 the reflection angles other than to the triangular-faces :Of' this prism. 5In,.case other anglcsvthan of the raysof light from the prism G in a direction at an angle of 4 from the optical It will. be obvious, however, that the prisnrE may bea 45, prism, G would then be a 45" prismor the prisms E and G may each be 4L6 prisms or I axis of the objective.

the prisms ErandG may both be 45 prisms and oneor both oi? the'two reflecting faces f or f of the prism F'may bearrangedfat 8 between the eye pieces arefdesire'd the angles of the reflecting faces of the prismE,

to the objective as the Prlsn'is' of 'the general and none of these prisms requircthe expert hand work which is necessary to produce a roof type or prism. The construction and arrangement of the prisms also has the advantage that they can be mounted in lions ings which are rotatable'to permit of the neccssury adjustmenti'm' diil'erent pupillary distances.

The prisms may be held in place in their housings in any suitable or desired manner. in the particular construction shown the prism F is clamped to the base 13 of the prism housing by means eta transverse clg'iinping bar H and a pair of screws or bolts 71 which engage standards or posts if "cared to the base B. The other prisms E and G'may be cemented or otherwise secured to the prism F. It will also be noted that by the use of these prisms, an adjustment of the prism housings about the axes oi the objectives can be utilized to secure the desired papillary distance between the eyepiece tubes. This can be eliected by means of the following construction.

Gear segments K and K are .ecured to the reflector housings B or to the bearing porllOT-S (Z thereof and these gear scgmentsmesh so that the turning of one of the l'lousings 13 produces a corresponding turning ofthe other housing in the opposite direction. Consequently when these housings are positioned into correct optical relation to each otl1.er,-thc gear segments will serve to maintain'cach eyepiece tube in the same relation other eyepiece tube. type described lend themselves particularly well to this'jl'orin of adjustment, which is simple and inexpensivc to manufacture and very easyt'or the user of the microscope to manipulate.

I. claim as my inventions- Y a 1.. A binocular microscope including a j pair of converging objectives arrangedwith their optical axes at an angle toeachothor pair of objectives arranged with their optical axes converging at an angle of appr ximately 16 degrees, eyepieccs arranged with their optical axes converging at approximatelyhalf the angle of said object-ives and and F in the construction to produce stereoscopic effect, eye ineces con-""" verging at a smaller angle than said objccv reflecting means interposed between said ohjectives and said eyepieces for reflecting light from theobjectives to the eyepieces and erecting the image.

I 3. A binocular microscope including a pair of convergingobjectives arranged with their optical axes at anangle to each other to produce stereoscopic effect, eyepieces converging at a smaller angle than said Objectives, re-

flecting means interposed between said objectives and said eyepieces for reflecting ferent pupillary distances.

light from said objectives to: said eyepieces an-dfor erecting the image, and. housings in which said reflecting meansare arranged and on which said eyepieces are 1riounted,"said housings being ad ustable relatively to 531d objectives to move said eyepiece tubes to dif- 4. A binocular microscope ncluding afpair of converging objective lenses arranged with their optical axes at an angle to each other.

I to produce stereoscopic effect, converging "eyepiece tubes,each of whichis" arranged at an'angle to the optical axis of its objective lens, and prismatic reflecting meansarranged between said objectives and eyepieces and each including afre flecting surface for re flectinglight from the objective'in a direction substantially atfright angles to the optical. axis of the objective, and other refleeting surfaces which reflect the light to the eyepiece in a direction substantially at right angles thereto and theninto the eye through the objective.

binocular microscope including a pair of converging objective lenses arranged with their optical axes at an angle to each other to produce stereoscopic efl'ect,'eyepiece tubes,

] eachof which is arranged at an angle to the optical axis of its objective lens, prismatic reflecting means arranged between said 0bjectives and eyepieces and adapted to reflect light from said objectives to said eyepieces,

housings in which said reflecting means are mounted and which are rotatable about the optical axes of said objectives, and connections between said housings for transmitting movement of one housing to the other housing.

housings in which said reflecting means are mounted and which are adjustable about the optical axes of said objectives, and gear segments secured on said housings and meshing with each other, whereby the movement of one housing produces corresponding movement in the opposite direction'of the other housing.

7. A binocular microscope includinga pair of converging objective lenses arranged with their optical axes at a'nangle to each other to produce stereoscopic eflect, eyepiece tubes, each ofwhich is arranged at an angle to the optical axis of its objective l.ens,and prismatic reflecting means arranged between said objectives and eyepieces and each including a reflecting surface for reflecting light from the objective in a direction transverse to the optical axis of the objective, a final reflecting surface adapted to reflect light from'a transverse direction into the eyepiece tube, and means for reflecting light from said first-refleeting surface to said final reflecting surface, the angles of said reflecting surfaces being such that the light passes into the' eyepiece tube at an angle of lesser convergence than that of the optical axis of the objective lens. c

8. A binocular microscope including-a pair of converging objective lenses arranged with their optical axesat an angle to each other to produce stereoscopic effect, eyepiece tubes, each of which is arranged atan angle to the optical axis of its objective lens, and prismatic reflecting means arranged between said objectives and eyepieces and each including a reflecting surface for reflecting light from "theobjective inadirection transverse to the optical axis of the objcctivefa) final reflecting surface adapted to reflect light from a transverse direction into the eyepiece tube, and a pair of reflecting surfaces one of which receives light from the first reflecting surface and reflects the same to the other reflecting surface of said pair, the light being reflected from the other reflecting surface of 7 said pair to said final reflecting surface, the reflecting surfaces being arranged at such angles as to cause light to pass into the eyepiece tube at an angle to the optical axis of the objective.

9. A binocular 'microscope including a pair of converging objective lenses arranged with their optical axes at an angle to each other to produce stereoscopic effect, eyepiece tubes, each of which is arranged at an angle to the optical axis of its objective lens, and prismatic reflecting means arranged between .said objectives and eyepieces and each including a prism arranged to receive light from said objective and reflect the same laterally of the optical axis of the objective, a second prism having a pair of reflecting surfaces arranged to reflect light from said first prism, and a third prism adapted to. receive light from said second prism and formed with all. of its optical faces arranged at acute angles to each other to reflect the light upwardly into the eyepiece at an angle piece tubes, each of which is arranged at,

an angle to the optical axis of its objective lens, and prismatic reflecting means ar ranged between said objectives and eyepieces and each including a prism arranged to receive light from said objective and having .an inclined face adapted to reflect light latp second prism and arranged at an angle other fer ally with reference to the optical .axis of said objective, a second prism to which said first prism issecured and havlng a pair of substantially upright reflecting surfaces arranged at an angle to each other, and a third prism mounted on saidsecond prism and having a face arranged at an inclination to the optical axls of the eyepiece tube and adapted to receive light from said second to pass into the eyepiece tube at an angle to the optical axis of the objective lens.

11. A binocular microscope including a pair of converging ob ective lenses arranged with their optical axes at an'angle to each other to produce stereoscopic effect, eyepiece tubes, each of WlllQlI is arranged at an angle I to the optical axis of its objective lens, and

prismatic reflecting means arranged between said ob ectlves and eyepieces and each includinga prism arranged to rece ve llght from said objective and having a face arsubstantially upright plane and at an angle of approximately 45 to the direction of light from said first prism, and a second refleeting face arranged substantially at right an les to the first reflecting face of saidsecon prism and receiving light from the first face of said second prism, and a third prism having a reflecting face adapted to receive light from the second reflecting face of the than 45 to the direction of light passing to said reflecting face of said third ris'm and adapted ,to reflect light into sai eyepiece tube at an angle to the optical axis of, the objective. c a

12. In a binocularmicroscope the combination of a pair of objectives each converging to apoint on the focal plane ofeac'h ob- ],jective, a prism housin rotatably mounted to turn about the optica axis of each objective, eyepiece tubes ec'centric'ally mountedon said prism housing, a series of prisms in each of said prism 'housingsfor reflecting the light, from an objective to; an eyepiece, whereby the rotation of said'p'rism housings serves to adjust said eyepiece tubes for pupillary distance, and gearing connecting said prism housing to causethe rotation of either prism houslng to produce a corresponding rotatlonof the other prlsm'housing.

CHARLES L. A Y. 

